Ball bat exhibiting optimized performance via selective placement of interlaminar shear control zones

BACKGROUND

0001This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,493, filed Jul. 29, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,054, which is incorporated herein by reference.

0002Baseball and softball bat manufacturers are continually attempting to develop ball bats that exhibit increased durability and improved performance characteristics. Ball bats typically include a handle, a barrel, and a tapered section joining the handle to the barrel. The outer shell of these bats is generally formed from aluminum or another suitable metal, and/or one or more composite materials.

0003Barrel construction is particularly important in modern bat design. Barrels having a single-wall construction, and more recently, a multi-wall construction, have been developed. Modern ball bats typically include a hollow interior, such that the bats are relatively lightweight and allow a ball player to generate substantial “bat speed” or “swing speed.”

0004Single-wall bats generally include a single tubular spring in the barrel section. Multi-wall barrels typically include two or more tubular springs, or similar structures, that may be of the same or different material composition, in the barrel section. The tubular springs in these multi-wall bats are typically either in contact with one another, such that they form friction joints, are bonded to one another with weld or bonding adhesive, or are separated from one another forming frictionless joints. If the tubular springs are bonded using a structural adhesive, or other structural bonding material, the barrel is essentially a single-wall construction. U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,095, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, describes a variety of bats having multi-walled barrel constructions.

0005It is generally desirable to have a bat barrel that is durable, while also exhibiting optimal performance characteristics. Hollow bats typically exhibit a phenomenon known as the “trampoline effect,” which essentially refers to the rebound velocity of a ball leaving the bat barrel as a result of flexing of the barrel wall(s). Thus, it is desirable to construct a ball bat having a high “trampoline effect,” so that the bat may provide a high rebound velocity to a pitched ball upon contact.

0006The “trampoline effect” is a direct result of the compression and resulting strain recovery of the bat barrel. During this process of barrel compression and decompression, energy is transferred to the ball resulting in an effective coefficient of restitution (COR) of the barrel, which is the ratio of the post impact ball velocity to the incident ball velocity (COR=Vpost impact/Vincident). In other words, the “trampoline effect” of the bat improves as the COR of the bat barrel increases.

0007Multi-walled bats were developed in an effort to increase the amount of acceptable barrel deflection beyond that which is possible in typical single-wall designs. These multi-walled constructions generally provide added barrel deflection, without increasing stresses beyond the material limits of the barrel materials. Accordingly, multi-wall barrels are typically more efficient at transferring energy back to the ball, and the more flexible property of the multi-wall barrel reduces undesirable deflection and deformation in the ball, which is typically made of highly inefficient material.

0008An example of a multi-wall ball bat <b>100</b> is illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. The barrel <b>102</b> of the ball bat <b>100</b> includes an inner wall <b>104</b> separated from an outer wall <b>106</b> by an interface shear control zone <b>108</b> or layer, such as an elastomeric layer, a friction joint, a bond-inhibiting layer, or another suitable layer. Each of the inner and outer walls <b>104</b>, <b>106</b> includes one or more plies <b>110</b> of one or more fiber-reinforced composite materials. Alternatively, one or both of the inner and outer walls <b>104</b>, <b>106</b> may include a metallic material, such as aluminum. A ball bat having this construction is described in detail U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/712,251, filed on Nov. 13, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

0009One way that a multi-wall bat differs from a single-wall bat is that there is no shear energy transfer through the interface shear control zone(s) (“ISCZ”) in the multi-wall barrel, i.e., through the region(s) between the barrel walls that de-couple the shear interface between those walls. As a result of strain energy equilibrium, this shear energy, which creates shear deformation in a single-wall barrel, is converted into bending energy in a multi-wall barrel. And since bending deformation is more efficient in transferring energy than is shear deformation, the walls of a multi-wall bat typically exhibit a lower strain energy loss than does a single wall design. Thus, multi-wall barrels are generally preferred over single-wall designs for producing efficient bat-ball collision dynamics, or a better “trampoline effect.”

0010To illustrate, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows a graphical comparison of the relative performance characteristics of a typical wood bat barrel, a typical single-wall bat barrel, and a typical double-wall bat barrel. As <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates, double-wall bats generally perform better along the length of the barrel than do single-wall bats and wood bats. While double-wall bats have generally produced improved results along the barrel length, these results still decrease to an extent as impact occurs away from the barrel's “sweet spot.”

0011The sweet spot is the impact location in the barrel where the transfer of energy from the bat to the ball is maximal (i.e., where the trampoline effect is greatest), while the transfer of energy to a player's hands is minimal. The sweet spot is generally located at the intersection of the bat's center of percussion (COP), and the first three fundamental nodes of vibration. This location, which is typically about 4 to 8 inches from the free end of the barrel (it is shown at 6 inches from the free end of the barrel in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, by way of example), does not move when the bat is vibrating in its first (or fundamental) bending mode. As a result, when a ball impacts the sweet spot, the bat does not vibrate, and none of the initial energy of the ball is lost to the bat. Moreover, a player swinging the bat does not feel vibration when the ball impacts the sweet spot.

0012The barrel region between the sweet spot and the free end of the barrel, and the barrel region between the sweet spot and the tapered section of the bat, in particular, do not exhibit the optimal performance characteristics that occur at the sweet spot. Indeed, in a typical ball bat, the barrel performance, or trampoline effect, decreases considerably as the impact location moves away from the sweet spot. As a result, a player is required to make very precise contact with a pitched ball to achieve optimum results, which is generally very challenging. Thus, a need exists for a ball bat that exhibits improved performance, or trampoline effect, at barrel regions away from the sweet spot.

SUMMARY

0013The invention is directed to a ball bat that exhibits improved barrel performance in regions located away from the sweet spot of the barrel, as a result of strategic placement of interface shear control zones (“ISCZs”) in the bat barrel. ISCZs may additionally, or alternatively, be strategically placed in the bat handle and/or the tapered section of the bat to improve the compliance and overall performance of those sections.

0014Other features and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter. The features of the invention described above can be used separately or together, or in various combinations of one or more of them. The invention resides as well in sub-combinations of the features described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0015In the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout the several views:

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a partially cutaway view of a multi-wall ball bat.

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a graph comparing relative performance characteristics of a typical wood bat barrel, a typical single-wall bat barrel, and a typical double-wall bat barrel.

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is side view of a ball bat.

0019<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4-7</figref> and <b>11</b> are cross-sections of Zones <b>1</b>-<b>3</b> of the bat barrel shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, according to five separate “multi-wall” embodiments.

0020<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a graph comparing relative performance characteristics of a typical double-wall bat barrel and a bat barrel utilizing multiple interface shear control zones to create a “multi-wall” bat.

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 9-10</figref> are cross-sections of Zones <b>1</b>-<b>3</b> of the bat barrel shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, according to two alternative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0022Turning now in detail to the drawings, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, a baseball or softball bat <b>10</b>, hereinafter collectively referred to as a “ball bat” or “bat,” includes a handle <b>12</b>, a barrel <b>14</b>, and a tapered section <b>16</b> joining the handle <b>12</b> to the barrel <b>14</b>. The free end of the handle <b>12</b> includes a knob <b>18</b> or similar structure. The barrel <b>14</b> is preferably closed off by a suitable cap <b>20</b> or plug. The interior of the bat <b>10</b> is preferably hollow, which allows the bat <b>10</b> to be relatively lightweight so that ball players may generate substantial bat speed when swinging the bat <b>10</b>.

0023The ball bat <b>10</b> preferably has an overall length of 20 to 40 inches, more preferably 26 to 34 inches. The overall barrel diameter is preferably 2.0 to 3.0 inches, more preferably 2.25 to 2.75 inches. Typical bats have diameters of 2.25, 2.625, or 2.75 inches. Bats having various combinations of these overall lengths and barrel diameters, as well as any other suitable dimensions, are contemplated herein. The specific preferred combination of bat dimensions is generally dictated by the user of the bat <b>10</b>, and may vary greatly between users.

0024For purposes of this discussion, as illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3-7</figref>, the bat barrel <b>14</b> is divided into three zones. The first zone <b>21</b>, or “Zone <b>1</b>,” extends approximately from the tapered section <b>16</b> of the ball bat <b>10</b> to a location near the “sweet spot” (as described above) of the bat barrel <b>14</b>. The second zone <b>22</b>, or “Zone <b>2</b>,” extends approximately from the free end of the bat barrel <b>14</b> to a location near the sweet spot. The third zone <b>24</b>, or “Zone <b>3</b>,” extends between the first and second zones <b>21</b>, <b>22</b>, and includes the sweet spot of the barrel <b>14</b>. The actual dimensions and locations of these zones may vary, as may the total number of zones. For example, Zone <b>1</b> may extend into the tapered section <b>16</b> of the ball bat <b>10</b>. For ease of description, however, the three zones <b>21</b>, <b>22</b>, <b>24</b> detailed above will be described herein.

0025The bat barrel <b>14</b> preferably comprises a plurality of composite plies <b>25</b>. The composite materials that make up the plies are preferably fiber-reinforced, and may include glass, graphite, boron, carbon, aramid, ceramic, kevlar, metallic, and/or any other suitable reinforcement material, preferably in epoxy form. Each composite ply preferably has a thickness of approximately 0.003 to 0.020 inches, more preferably 0.005 to 0.008 inches. Alternatively, nano-tubes, such as high-strength carbon nano-tube composite structures, may be used to construct the bat barrel <b>14</b>.

0026As explained above, increasing the number of walls in a bat barrel increases the acceptable deflection in the bat barrel, and also converts shear energy into bending energy, via the strategic placement of one or more ISCZs. As a result, the bat's trampoline effect is improved. In existing multi-wall bats, however, optimum results are not achieved throughout the entire length of the barrel, since barrel performance naturally deteriorates the further that impact occurs from the sweet spot.

0027To improve barrel performance in Zones <b>1</b> and/or <b>2</b>, a separate “multi-wall” approach, created by strategic placement of ISCZs in one or both of those zones, may be utilized (see, for example, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>, including ISZCs <b>96</b> in Zones <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>). Each ISCZ used preferably has a radial thickness of approximately 0.001 to 0.010 inches, more preferably 0.005 to 0.006 inches. Any other suitable size ISCZ may alternatively be used. An ISCZ may include a bond-inhibiting layer, a friction joint, a sliding joint, an elastomeric joint, an interface between two dissimilar materials (e.g., aluminum and a composite material), or any other suitable means for separating the barrel into “multiple walls.” If a bond-inhibiting layer is used, it is preferably made of a fluoropolymer material, such as Teflon® (polyfluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene), or PVF (polyvinyl fluoride), and/or another suitable material, such as PMP (polymethylpentene), nylon (polyamide), or cellophane.

0028In a first barrel embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, a first ISCZ <b>30</b> is located in Zone <b>3</b> of the bat barrel <b>14</b>. The first ISCZ <b>30</b> is preferably located at or near the neutral axis of the bat barrel <b>14</b>, where the shear stresses in the barrel <b>14</b> are the highest. In this manner, an optimal amount of shear stress can be converted into bending stress. The first ISCZ <b>30</b> may alternatively be located at any other radial location in Zone <b>3</b> of the bat barrel <b>14</b>. The neutral axis is located approximately at the radial midpoint of the barrel wall if the barrel <b>14</b> is made up of homogeneous isotropic layers. If more than one composite material is used in the barrel <b>14</b>, and/or if the material is not uniformly distributed, the neutral axis may reside at a different radial location.

0029For ease of description, the composite barrel material(s) used in the embodiments shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4-7</figref> will be considered to be homogeneous, isotropic layers, such that the neutral axis of the barrel <b>14</b> is located approximately at the radial midpoint of the barrel wall. In practice, however, any suitable combination of composite and/or metallic materials may be used to construct the barrel <b>14</b>, such that the neutral axis may be located at other locations in the barrel <b>14</b>. Moreover, once an ISCZ is added to the barrel <b>14</b>, it divides the barrel <b>14</b> into two barrel “walls,” each of which has its own neutral axis, as described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/712,251.

0030Returning to the first embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, Zone <b>1</b> includes two ISCZs <b>32</b>, <b>34</b>, and Zone <b>2</b> includes two ISCZs <b>36</b>, <b>38</b>. Each of the ISCZs <b>32</b>, <b>34</b>, <b>36</b>, <b>38</b> may be located approximately at thirds of the radial barrel thickness, or may be positioned in another manner. By locating two ISCZs in each of Zones <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> of the bat barrel <b>14</b>, those regions essentially perform as tri-wall structures, and thus exhibit increased deflection as compared to Zone <b>3</b>, which is essentially a double-wall structure. As a result, the barrel deflection and trampoline effect of Zones <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> are improved relative to Zone <b>3</b>, thus causing them to better approximate the performance of Zone <b>3</b> of the bat barrel <b>14</b>. Accordingly, when a ball impacts the barrel <b>14</b> at either Zone <b>1</b> or Zone <b>2</b>, the barrel <b>14</b> produces a trampoline effect that is closer to that which is produced at the sweet spot than do existing ball bats.

0031In the first embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the ISCZs <b>32</b>, <b>34</b>, <b>36</b>, <b>38</b> are oriented such that they are continuous with the first ISCZ <b>30</b> in Zone <b>3</b>. Additionally, the ISCZs <b>32</b>, <b>34</b> in Zone <b>1</b> are substantially symmetrical with the ISCZs <b>36</b>, <b>38</b> in Zone <b>3</b>. One or more of the ISCZs <b>32</b>, <b>34</b>, <b>36</b>, <b>38</b> may alternatively be discontinuous with the first ISCZ <b>30</b>, and the ISCZs <b>32</b>, <b>34</b> in Zone <b>1</b> may be asymmetrical with the ISCZs <b>36</b>, <b>38</b> in Zone <b>3</b>, as described below.

0032In the barrel embodiments shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5 and 6</figref>, a greater number of ISCZs are located in Zone <b>1</b> than in Zone <b>2</b> of the bat barrel <b>14</b>. Such an arrangement may be preferable due to the effects of rotational inertia. During a typical bat swing, the rotational inertia produced in Zone <b>1</b> is less than that produced in Zone <b>2</b>, due to the relative proximity of Zone <b>1</b>, as compared to Zone <b>2</b>, to the bat handle <b>12</b>. Accordingly, bat performance is typically inferior in Zone <b>1</b> than in Zone <b>2</b>. To counteract this difference in performance, in the embodiments shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5 and 6</figref>, a greater number of ISCZs are included in Zone <b>1</b> than in Zone <b>2</b>, to increase the barrel deflection in Zone <b>1</b> to a greater extent than in Zone <b>2</b>.

0033In the barrel embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, a continuous ISCZ <b>40</b> runs through Zones <b>1</b>, <b>2</b>, and <b>3</b>, approximately at the radial midpoint of the barrel wall. Two separate discontinuous ISCZs <b>42</b>, <b>44</b> are located in Zone <b>1</b> between the ISCZ <b>40</b> and the central axis of the bat barrel <b>14</b>, while an additional discontinuous ISCZ <b>46</b> is located in Zone <b>1</b> between the ISCZ <b>40</b> and the outer surface of the bat barrel <b>14</b>. Thus, Zone <b>1</b> includes a total of four ISCZs, such that the barrel <b>14</b> essentially performs like a 5-wall structure in Zone <b>1</b>. Zone <b>2</b> includes one discontinuous ISCZ <b>48</b> located between the ISCZ <b>40</b> and the central axis of the bat barrel <b>14</b>, add an additional discontinuous ISCZ <b>50</b> located between the ISCZ <b>40</b> and the outer surface of the bat barrel <b>14</b>. Thus, Zone <b>2</b> includes a total of three ISCZs, such that the barrel <b>14</b> essentially performs like a 4-wall structure in Zone <b>2</b>.

0034In the barrel embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, Zone <b>3</b> includes one ISCZ <b>60</b> located approximately at the radial midpoint of the barrel wall. Zone <b>1</b> includes two ISCZs <b>62</b>, <b>64</b> located between the radial midpoint and the outer surface of the barrel wall, and one ISCZ <b>66</b> located between the radial midpoint of the barrel wall and the central axis of the barrel <b>14</b>. Thus, Zone <b>1</b> includes a total of three ISCZs, such that the barrel <b>14</b> essentially performs like a 4-wall structure in Zone <b>1</b>. Zone <b>2</b> includes one ISCZ <b>68</b> located between the radial midpoint and the outer surface of the barrel wall, and one ISCZ <b>70</b> located between the radial midpoint of the barrel wall and the central axis of the barrel <b>14</b>. Thus, Zone <b>2</b> includes a total of two ISCZs, such that the barrel <b>14</b> essentially performs like a 3-wall structure in Zone <b>2</b>. The three ISCZs <b>62</b>, <b>64</b>, <b>66</b> in Zone <b>1</b>, and the two ISCZs <b>68</b>, <b>70</b> in Zone <b>2</b>, are all continuous with the ISCZ <b>60</b> in Zone <b>3</b>.

0035The barrel embodiments shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5 and 6</figref> illustrate the design flexibility contemplated by the present invention. For example, one or more ISCZs in Zones <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> may be continuous or discontinuous with one or more ISCZs in Zone <b>3</b>, one or more ISCZs in any of Zones <b>1</b>-<b>3</b> may be located between the radial midpoint and the outer surface of the barrel wall, at or near the radial midpoint of the barrel wall, and/or between the radial midpoint of the barrel wall and the central axis of the bat barrel <b>14</b>, etc. Additionally, Zones <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> may include the same or a different number of ISCZs than one another.

0036Importantly, the termination of an ISCZ need not occur specifically where two zones meet. Indeed, an ICSZ may overlap, or reside in, more than one zone, and the zones may be wider or narrower than those which are depicted in the drawings. Moreover, a greater or lesser number of zones may be specified. Indeed, the “zones” are used for illustrative purposes only, and do not provide a physical or theoretical barrier of any kind. Thus, ISCZs may be positioned in the bat barrel <b>14</b> (as well as in the tapered section <b>16</b> and the handle <b>12</b>) at a wide variety of locations, according to an infinite number of designs, to achieve desired barrel and overall ball bat performance characteristics.

0037To this end, the invention is generally directed to a ball bat having a greater number of ISCZs in at least one barrel region located away from the sweet spot, than the number of ISCZs that are located in a barrel region including the sweet spot, in order to provide improved barrel deflection and trampoline effect in those regions. Additionally, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to include a greater number of ISCZs in a barrel region between the tapered section of the bat and the sweet spot, than in a region between the sweet spot and the free end of the barrel, to compensate for the differences in the effects of rotational inertia in those regions. It is recognized, however, that any suitable number of ISCZs may be located in any regions of the barrel (and other portions of the ball bat), in any suitable configuration, depending on the design goals for a particular ball bat.

0038<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> illustrates an alternative barrel embodiment in which the bat barrel <b>14</b> includes a metal outer region <b>80</b> and a composite inner region <b>82</b>. The metal outer region <b>80</b> is preferably separated from the composite inner region <b>82</b> by a suitable ISCZ <b>86</b>, such as a bond-inhibiting layer. Alternatively, the non-bonded interface between the metal outer region <b>80</b> and the composite inner region may itself form an ISCZ.

0039The metal outer region <b>80</b> preferably includes aluminum and/or another suitable metallic material. The composite inner region <b>82</b> preferably includes one or more ISCZs <b>84</b>, in at least Zones <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> of the barrel <b>14</b>, to provide increased barrel deflection in those regions. This hybrid metal/composite construction provides increased durability, due to the presence of the metal outer region <b>80</b>, while still providing the advantages of increased regional barrel deflection, due to the placement of one or more ISCZs in specific zones of the composite inner region <b>82</b>. In an alternative embodiment, the barrel <b>14</b> may include a composite outer region and a metal inner region.

0040<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> shows a graphical comparison of the relative performance characteristics of a typical double-wall bat barrel (the double-wall barrel curve in the graph of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is the same as the double-wall barrel curve shown in the graph of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>), and a “multi-wall” bat barrel incorporating additional ISCZs in Zones <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> of the bat barrel <b>14</b>. As <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> illustrates, by locating additional ISCZs in Zones <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> of the bat barrel <b>14</b>, performance is generally improved along the length of the barrel <b>14</b> as compared to a typical double-wall bat.

0041<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 9 and 10</figref> illustrate alternative embodiments in which a single continuous ISCZ passes through Zone <b>1</b>, Zone <b>3</b>, and Zone <b>2</b> of the bat barrel, essentially forming a double-wall bat barrel. The single continuous ISCZs in these embodiments, however, intersect more than one ply in each of Zones <b>1</b>, <b>2</b>, and <b>3</b>, i.e., the thickness of each of the barrel walls varies throughout the length of the barrel. Accordingly, the bat barrel does not perform like a typical double-wall barrel having a single continuous ISCZ running along the length of the barrel at substantially the same radial location.

0042<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> illustrates a bat barrel including a single continuous ISCZ <b>90</b> that runs closer to the outer surface of the barrel <b>14</b> in Zone <b>3</b> than in Zones <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> illustrates a bat barrel including a single continuous “stepped” ISCZ <b>92</b> that runs closer to the outer surface of the barrel <b>14</b> in Zone <b>2</b> than in Zone <b>3</b>, and closer to the outer surface of the barrel <b>14</b> in Zone <b>3</b> than in Zone <b>1</b>. The continuous ISCZ need not be symmetric, and it may be positioned inversely to the embodiments shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 9 and 10</figref>, or it may be oriented in any other suitable fashion. By varying the location of the single continuous ISCZ throughout the bat barrel, the sweet spot of the barrel may be increased and/or modified. In an alternative embodiment, the continuous ISCZ may intersect greater than one ply in a lesser number of zones or barrel regions, such that the thickness of the barrel walls varies only in those regions.

0043The present invention further contemplates locating ISCZs in the bat handle <b>12</b> and/or the tapered section <b>16</b> (to provide increased deformation for off-barrel hits) of the ball bat <b>10</b>, to provide increased deflection in those regions. Use of ICSZs in the bat handle <b>12</b> provides increased handle compliance, due to the efficient energy transfer resulting from bending deformation, as opposed to shear deformation. In addition, by using one or more ICSZs to de-couple the handle <b>12</b>, the “feel” of the bat <b>10</b> is improved, as a greater number of interfaces are provided for dissipating vibration energy.

0044When one or more ISCZs are placed in the handle <b>12</b> near the tapered section <b>16</b>, the ball bat <b>10</b> exhibits a quicker “snap back” to axial alignment during a swing than if the ISCZ(s) are placed closer to the user grip location of the handle <b>12</b>. This quicker snap back is generally preferred by skilled players who generate high swing speeds. Placing ISCZs closer to the grip location on the handle <b>12</b> tends to rob skilled players of control, as the bat <b>10</b> is too slow to return to the axial position at or just prior to the time of ball impact.

0045For novice players, however, it may be preferable to locate ISCZ(s) in the bat handle <b>12</b> closer to user the grip location, since lesser-skilled players tend to “push” the bat through the strike zone, and therefore do not cause the bat <b>10</b> to “bend” significantly out of axial alignment. Those skilled in the art, therefore, will recognize that the placement of the ISCZs in the handle <b>12</b> is generally dependent upon the flexibility of the remaining bat handle <b>12</b>, the weight of the bat barrel <b>14</b>, the skill level of the intended user, and the materials used in the handle <b>12</b>.

0046The ball bat <b>10</b> is generally constructed by rolling the various layers of the bat <b>10</b>, including the ISCZs, onto a mandrel or similar structure having the desired bat shape. The ISCZs are strategically placed and oriented, as described in the above embodiments, to achieve increased deflection and trampoline effect in Zone <b>1</b> and/or Zone <b>2</b> of the bat barrel <b>14</b>. Additionally, or alternatively, ISCZs may be placed in the handle <b>12</b> and/or the tapered section <b>16</b> of the ball bat <b>10</b> to increase deflection in those regions.

0047The ends of the layers are preferably “clocked,” or offset, from one another so that they do not all terminate at the same location before curing. Accordingly, when heat and pressure are applied to cure the bat <b>10</b>, the various barrel layers blend together into a distinctive “one-piece,” or integral, multi-wall construction. Put another way, all of the layers of the bat are “co-cured” in a single step, and blend or terminate together at at least one end, resulting in a single-piece, multi-wall structure with no gaps (at the at least one end), such that the barrel <b>14</b> is not made up of a series of tubes, each with a wall thickness that terminates at the ends of the tubes. As a result, all of the layers act in unison under loading conditions, such as during striking of a ball.

0048The blending of the layers into a single-piece, multi-wall construction, like tying the ends of a leaf spring together, offers an extremely durable assembly, particularly when impact occurs at the extreme ends of the layer separation zones. By blending the multiple layers together, the barrel <b>14</b> acts as a unitized structure where no single layer works independently of the other layers. One or both ends of the barrel <b>14</b> may terminate together in this manner to form the one-piece barrel <b>14</b>. In an alternative design, neither of the barrel ends terminates together in this manner.

0049The described bat construction, and method of making the same, provides a bat <b>10</b> having excellent “trampoline effect” throughout the length of the barrel <b>14</b>. These results are primarily due to the selection and strategic placement of ISCZs (which may also be placed in the handle <b>12</b> and/or the tapered section <b>16</b> of the bat <b>10</b> to increase deflection in those regions) in the barrel <b>14</b>. Additionally, the optional step of blending the barrel layers together in a single curing step provides for increased durability, especially during impact at the extreme ends of the barrel layers.

0050Thus, while several embodiments have been shown and described, various changes and substitutions may of course be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention, therefore, should not be limited, except by the following claims and their equivalents.